No happier sound rings around Highbury than the Arsenal fans' chant of "We've got Dennis Bergkamp". It is not just a simple statement of superiority over rivals, but a "squeeze ourselves to believe we've got a player of his skills" sort of chant. And when it rolls around the ground, it normally signals that the menace is back in Dennis.
For most of this season, the Gunners faithful have not been able to crow about having Dennis Bergkamp. At least not in the shape and the stunning form that won him last season's Footballer Of The Year award.
The Dutchman began the current campaign in morose, almost sullen form, serving up the sort of uncommitted performances more familiar to Italian fans during his spell at Internazionale. The stunning goals and killer passes dried up as supporters were asked to believe that he was suffering from a World Cup hangover, one that dragged on longer than that experienced by Scottish fans.
Only in recent weeks has the real Bergkamp re-emerged, reviving hopes that Arsenal might retain at least one half of their Double - if not both - and putting the song back onto the fans' hymn sheets. His re-emergence from the wings to centre stages is a reward for the patience of his understanding manager Arsene Wenger, who likens his prize asset to a concert pianist. If so, Bergkamp possesses the only piano in the world on which it is possible to play just the grace notes.
On his own admission, he is someone who has trouble coping with the familiar and the mundane. In recent weeks, he has produced a stunning goal which sent Chelsea to only their second defeat of the season, orchestrated superb team displays against West Ham and Leicester, and scored another masterly effort to finish off Sheffield United in that controversial FA Cup replay. It was a chip as delicate as a Ballesteros eight-iron.
"I have always liked the goals that require technical skills," Bergkamp says. "That was why I was so happy with the one that I scored against Argentina in the World Cup and the third one against Leicester last season. That goal required a lot of technical touches in a short space of time and they all had to be perfect for me to score." The chance against Sheffield United, he admits, could just have easily been dispatched with a thump as with his delightful caress from just inside the box. "But," he says, "it is good to try different things, particularly when you are starting to feel that everything you do will come off." Those are words to hearten any Arsenal fan and cause those of Manchester United and Chelsea to look over their shoulders, confirmation that Bergkamp, a man whose confidence does not always match his ability, believes once again in his mysterious, magical powers.
If he never - outwardly at least - seems to enjoy his moments of genius as much as team-mates and supporters, it is because he is enough of a realist to understand that, at times, the muse will leave him altogether. "I can be very sober about it when people praise me like they did last season, because I know you cannot sustain it for long periods," he says. "That was probably the best I have ever played and now things are getting back to that."
He will be especially keen to demonstrate this against Derby today because it was against them, in one of the last Premiership games of last season, that he sustained the hamstring injury which led to him missing the final celebrations.
He had invited the guests, baked the cakes and organised the music, but on Arsenal's two big party nights he could only sit in the corner and watch all the others enjoying themselves.
One of the saddest sights of last season was of Bergkamp, his leg heavily strapped, limping out to receive his medal after Arsenal had clinched the Premiership with a win over Everton. He was optimistic of at least being back for the FA Cup final, but that ended up being even more of a disappointment.
"I remember being on the coach going to Wembley, feeling that I was missing out," he says. "I didn't feel part of the team or the day. It was only when we were on the open-top bus parading our trophies the day after the final that it sank in that this was our reward for the whole season, not just for one match. But I couldn't bear to miss out if we get to Wembley again." As well as reviving his own - and Arsenal's - fortunes, Bergkamp has put several million on to Nicolas Anelka's transfer tag by serving up so many goals. Typically, Bergkamp praises Anelka for his improved form. "He has a lot more confidence now and he doesn't need as many touches to score a goal." No one doubts that Bergkamp knows exactly what to do when he gets the ball. In his mercurial form of the past few weeks, it is only the opposition who are constantly in the dark.
